Architecture studio Populous has revealed its design for the 70,000-seat Rach Chiec Stadium on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese developer Sun Group has appointed the firm to design both the stadium and an accompanying 18,000-seat arena. The venues will form the centre of the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex, covering 186.78 hectares. Populous also developed the masterplan, which sets out how the buildings and public spaces will fit together. The stadium is intended to accommodate major sporting events and large concerts.
The stadium’s diamond-patterned facade, or outer surface, takes inspiration from nipa palms growing along the region’s waterways. These riverside plants influenced both the building’s shape and the approach to sheltering visitors. According to Populous, the architects studied how the palms protect riverbanks while providing space beneath their leaves for community activities and trade. The design applies that idea through sheltered circulation areas, where spectators can move around the venue. These spaces are intended to offer protection from the weather while maintaining a connection with the surrounding city.
A fully retractable roof, which can open and close, is another central feature of the design. It is intended to give organisers greater control over conditions inside the stadium during sporting events and performances. Sound insulation is also planned to reduce noise reaching nearby residential areas during concerts and other large gatherings. The proposed air-conditioning system would allow temperatures to be adjusted in different seating zones. Together, these features are designed to support the stadium’s use for both sport and entertainment, including its conversion into a stage for large concerts.
Football will be among the stadium’s uses, but the wider development is planned to support a much broader sporting programme. Populous says the complex’s masterplan can accommodate around 90% of Olympic sports. This claim applies to the entire site, rather than the stadium alone. Its facilities are being designed with competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games and the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in mind. The firm also links the project to longer-term ambitions for an Olympic and Paralympic Games. These are hosting ambitions, rather than announcements that such events have been awarded to the development.
Beyond the two main venues, the plans include an aquatic centre, training facilities, halls for different sports and sports medicine services. A central park and waterfront spaces would connect the facilities and provide areas for recreation. Public parks and plazas are intended to make the development useful to residents between major events. “We are focusing on making the venues accessible, well connected and flexible to provide a variety of experiences for all demographics,” said Andrew Tulen, senior principal at Populous. The approach gives everyday community activities a place alongside international competitions and performances.
For tourism, the opportunity extends beyond spectators arriving for a football match or concert. Visiting teams, event staff and conference delegates could also generate demand for accommodation, restaurants and other services. Plans for the waterfront include dining, shopping, outdoor events and festivals, giving visitors reasons to spend time around the complex. A conference centre is also proposed, with spaces for exhibitions, meetings and international gatherings. These facilities could broaden the development’s visitor appeal, although their effect on tourism will depend on the events it attracts once operating.
The project’s groundbreaking ceremony took place on 15 January 2026, several months before the latest design announcement. According to Sun Group, the approved project timetable allows eight years from the signing of its development contract. However, the city and investor aim to accelerate land clearance and construction, targeting completion in around five years. That ambition concerns the wider complex and should not be treated as a confirmed stadium opening date. Populous currently lists the project’s completion year as to be confirmed.
